Home tips can prevents accidents and injuries

According to Sherry Feichko at Rocky Mountain Home Care there are numerous tips that can prevent accidents and injuries in and around homes. Tips in the kitchen include such things as never wear lose or flowing clothing while you are cooking, try not to store items on high shelves and turn the pot handles toward the back of the stove during cooking.

Most people know and understand these tips and practice safety in the home but it is always a good remainder from time to time.

In the bathroom one should have nonskid mats in the bathtub and shower, not use towel racks as grab bars and try to equip all bathtubs and showers with grab bars. Electrical appliances such as hair dryers, shavers, curling irons or radios should never be near sinks or tubs and should be unplugged when not in use.

Don't smoke in bed and be sure that the lamp or light switch is within reach of the bed. Try to keep all fire sources such ashtrays, smoking materials, hot plates, electrical teapots away from bedding. One good suggestion is to never tuck in electric blankets. Another very sound bit of advice is to never use an electric blanket on beds with children or elderly that have trouble controlling urine in bed.

Throughout the house one should remove all small rugs or runners and always have a telephone within reach. At all high traffic areas, such as hallways and passageways between rooms, one should make sure they are well lighted and free of furniture or boxes. Emergency numbers should be posted near the telephone and all medicines should be clearly marked and stored in the containers they come in.Medications should be out of reach of children.

When you put nails in walls make sure they are not through wires and make sure electrical cords are not frayed or cracked. Equipment needs to be properly grounded and connected directly to wall outlets.

All medical equipment should be checked yearly and it is always a good idea to call a therapist once a year for a safety check of all equipment. If you feel a piece of equipment is not working correctly call a therapist or nurse immediately. Be sure to arrange for back ups for important medical equipment, such as oxygen. In times of a power outage this is important says Feichko.

A couple other areas that need a quick check are the basement and the stairs. All work areas, including stairs, need to be well lighted and make sure that all lights can be turned on without walking through a dark area. Gasoline or kerosene need to be stored in approved containers and never stored in the house. Keep things that could burn or explode away from the furnace and water heater. There should be a light switch at both the top and bottom of staircases. Handrails need to be sturdy and fastened securely on the stairway, and these handrails need to run continuously from the top to the bottom of the flight of stairs. It is best to have hand rails on both sides of the stairs, the edges of the steps should be easy to see and nothing should ever be stored or set on the stairway, not even temporarily.